2011-J1537

Commemorating the 112th birthday of Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington and his tremendous contributions to music of the 20th Century

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2011-J1537


LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 112th birthday of Edward Kenne-
dy "Duke" Ellington and his tremendous contributions to music of the
20th Century, specifically jazz, blues and gospel

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those musical geniuses who brought entertainment and cultural
enrichment to the citizens of the great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, to James
Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington; Daisy and James Edward
were both pianists; and
WHEREAS, At the age of seven, Edward Kennedy Ellington began taking
piano lessons; his mother surrounded him with dignified women to rein-
force his manners and taught him to live elegantly; and
WHEREAS, Edward Kennedy Ellington's childhood friends noticed that
"his casual, offhand manner, easy grace, and his dapper dress gave him
the bearing of a young nobleman"; they began calling him "Duke"; Duke
credited his "chum" Edgar McEntree for the nickname; and
WHEREAS, Duke Ellington once stated, "I think he felt that in order
for me to be eligible for his constant companionship, I should have a
title. So he called me Duke."; and
WHEREAS, A prominent figure in the history of jazz, Duke Ellington's
music stretched into various other genres, including blues, gospel, film
scores, popular, and classical; his career spanned more than 50 years
and included leading his orchestra, composing an inexhaustible songbook,
attaining credits for movies, and composing stage musicals and world
tours; and
WHEREAS, Duke Ellington's work has come to be recognized as a corner-
stone of American culture and heritage; he is widely regarded as the
most important composer in jazz, and was also a galvanizing bandleader
who inspired many of his musicians to produce their best work, whilst
himself being a significant exponent of jazz piano; and
WHEREAS, When asked what inspired him to write, Duke Ellington had
replied, "My men and my race are the inspiration of my work. I try to
catch the character and mood and feeling of my people."; and
WHEREAS, Thanks to his inventive use of the orchestra, or big band,
and thanks to his eloquence and extraordinary charisma, Duke Ellington
is generally considered to have elevated the perception of jazz to an
art form on a par with other traditional genres of music; and
WHEREAS, Duke Ellington influenced millions of people both at home and
around the world; he gave American music its own sound for the first
time; throughout his 50-year career, he played over 20,000 performances
in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East as well as Asia; and
WHEREAS, Duke Ellington was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award in 1966; he was later awarded several other prizes, the US Presi-
dential Medal of Freedom in 1969, and the Legion of Honor by France in
1973, the highest civilian honors in each country; and
WHEREAS, Duke Ellington died on May 24, 1974, a month after his 75th
birthday, and is buried in the Bronx, New York City; at his funeral
attended by over 12,000 people at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
located in Harlem, New York, Ella Fitzgerald summed up the occasion by
stating, "It's a very sad day...A genius has passed."; and
WHEREAS, Formerly named "Frawley Circle", the traffic circle located
at 5th Avenue and 110th Street in Harlem, New York, was renamed "Duke
Ellington Circle" in 1995; in 1997, a 25 foot (7.6 m) tall statue by
sculptor Robert Graham of Duke Ellington was erected in the middle of
the amphitheater composing the circle; and

WHEREAS, In 1986 a dramatic, stamp-image portrayal of the beloved
American composer and bandleader Duke Ellington was designed by Texas-
born artist James Sharpe, and its April 1986 release not only repres-
ented the first U.S. Postal Service issue of a jazz-themed image, but
the introduction of its design also served as only the second U.S.
stamp-image to feature an African-American from the field of musical
arts; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, the honor was bestowed on Duke Ellington once again
with the issuance of another U.S. Postage Stamp titled "Black Cinema USA
42" for his film "Black and Tan"; and
WHEREAS, On February 24, 2009, the United States Mint launched a new
coin featuring Duke Ellington, making him the first African-American to
appear alone on a circulating United States coin; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 112th Birthday of Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, a
legendary musician and one of the most influential African-Americans in
the history this state, this country, and the world; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington.

actions

  • 29 / Apr / 2011
    • REFERRED TO FINANCE
  • 03 / May / 2011
    • REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION
  • 03 / May / 2011
    • ADOPTED

Resolution Details

Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative

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